Verbena plant named &#39;KLEVP15616&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new  Verbena  plant particularly distinguished by orange-red flowers with darker eyes, an upright plant habit, and good tolerance to powdery mildew, is disclosed.

Genus and species: Verbena sp.

Variety denomination: ‘KLEVP15616’

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct variety of Verbena,botanically known as Verbena sp., and hereinafter referred to by thevariety name ‘KLEVP15616’. ‘KLEVP15616’ originated from across-pollination conducted in September 2011 in Cobbitty, New SouthWales, Australia between the proprietary female Verbena variety ‘VC1166’(unpatented), and the proprietary male Verbena variety ‘VC11107’(unpatented).

The seeds from the cross were sown and plants were grown for evaluation,where an individual plant designated ‘KLEVP15616’ was selected from thegroup of plants in Cobbitty, New South Wales, Australia in August 2012.

In October 2012, ‘KLEVP15616’ was first vegetatively propagated byvegetative stem cuttings in Cobbitty, New South Wales, Australia.‘KLEVP15616’ was found to reproduce true to type in successivegenerations of asexual propagation via vegetative stem cuttings.

SUMMARY

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishingcharacteristics of this new variety when grown under normalhorticultural practices in Cobbitty, New South Wales, Australia.

-   -   1. Orange-red flowers with darker red eyes;    -   2. An upright plant habit; and    -   3. Good tolerance to powdery mildew.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

This new Verbena plant is illustrated by the accompanying photographwhich shows the plant's overall plant habit including form, foliage, andflowers. The photograph is of a thirteen-week-old plant grown in agreenhouse in Stuttgart, Germany in May 2014. The colors shown are astrue as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographicprocedures.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctivecharacteristics of ‘KLEVP15616’. The data which define thesecharacteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out inCobbitty, New South Wales, Australia. Data was collected onthree-month-old plants grown in a greenhouse in Cobbitty, New SouthWales, Australia in June 2015 in Cobbitty, New South Wales, Australia.Color references are to The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The RoyalHorticultural Society of London (R.H.S.) 2007.

-   Classification:    -   -   Family.—Verbenaceae.        -   Botanical.—Verbena sp.        -   Common.—Verbena.        -   Designation.—‘KLEVP15616’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—The proprietary female verbena variety            ‘VC1166’ (unpatented).        -   Male parent.—The proprietary male verbena variety ‘VC11107’            (unpatented).-   Plant:    -   -   Growth habit.—Upright.        -   Height (from top of soil).—30.0 cm.        -   Width (horizontal plant diameter).—26.0 cm.        -   Time to produce a finished flowering plant.—Approximately 8            weeks.        -   Time to initiate and develop roots.—3 weeks.        -   Root description.—RHS 155B (White); fine and fibrous roots.-   Stems:    -   -   Number of branches per plant.—More than 25.        -   Length.—20.0 cm.        -   Diameter.—1.0 cm.        -   Internode length.—Approximately 1.8 cm.        -   Color.—RHS 130D.        -   Anthocyanin.—Absent.        -   Texture and appearance.—Pubescent, round.-   Leaves:    -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite.        -   Immature and mature leaf color.—Upper surface: RHS 141A            Lower surface: RHS 141C.        -   Length.—2.3 cm.        -   Width.—1.4 cm.        -   Shape.—Lanceolate.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Obtuse.        -   Margin.—Crenate.        -   Texture.—Upper surface: Leathery Lower surface: Rugose.        -   Venation type.—Pinnate.        -   Venation color (both upper and lower surfaces).—RHS 141D.        -   Petioles.—Length: 0.3 cm Diameter: 0.1 cm Color: RHS 141D            Texture: Leathery.-   Flower buds:    -   -   Shape.—Tall, cylindrical.        -   Length.—0.5 cm.        -   Diameter.—0.2 cm.        -   Color (at tight bud).—RHS 49A.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Blooming habit (flowering season).—Continuously.        -   Lastingness of individual blooms on the plant.—2 weeks.        -   Fragrance.—Absent.        -   Inflorescence type.—Umbel.        -   Length of inflorescence.—5.8 cm.        -   Diameter of inflorescence.—5.9 cm.        -   Number of florets per inflorescence.—More than 20.        -   Peduncle.—Color: RHS 141A Length: 1.0 cm Diameter: 0.1 cm.-   Florets:    -   -   Length.—2.1 cm.        -   Diameter.—2.5 cm.        -   Texture.—Glossy.        -   Form.—Single.        -   Length.—2.1 cm.        -   Diameter.—2.5 cm.        -   Corolla tube length.—1.2 cm.        -   Corolla tube color (outer surface).—RHS 56C.        -   Petals.—Length of lobe: 1.9 cm Diameter of lobe: 2.0 cm Lobe            shape: Round Apex: Acute Base: Obtuse Margin: Entire Texture            (both upper and lower surfaces): Glossy, satiny Color:            Immature: Upper surface: RHS 58B with RHS 53C eyes Lower            surface: RHS 52B Mature: Upper surface: RHS 55A with RHS 52A            eyes Lower surface: RHS 48C.        -   Pedicels.—Not visible.-   Sepals:    -   -   Shape.—Lanceolate.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Obtuse.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Length.—0.9 cm.        -   Diameter.—0.4 cm.        -   Color.—RHS 141C.        -   Texture (both upper and lower surfaces).—Hairy, dull.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Stamens.—Present. Quantity: 4 Color: RHS 139D Filament            length: 0.6 cm Filament diameter: 0.1 cm Anther: Shape:            Elliptic Color: RHS 141D Length: 0.8 cm Diameter: 0.2 cm            Pollen amount: Sparse.        -   Pistils.—Number: 1 Length: 1.0 cm Diameter: 0.1 cm Stigma:            Color: RHS 141D Appearance: Ovate Length: 0.1 cm Diameter:            0.1 cm Style: Color: RHS 141D Length: 0.9 cm Diameter: 0.1            cm Appearance: Long.-   Fruit and seed set: None observed.-   Disease and pest/insect resistance: Good tolerance to powdery mildew    (Podosphaera xanthii).

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL LINES AND KNOWN VARIETY

‘KLEVP15616’ is distinguished from its parents as described in Table 1.

TABLE 1 Comparison with Parental Lines Female parent Male parentCharacteristic ‘KLEVP15616’ ‘VC1166’ ‘VC11107’ Flower color Orange-redwith Pink with darker Orange-red darker red eyes eyes (RHS 45A)Branching More than 20 10 to 15 stems More than 15 stems stems

‘KLEVP15616’ is most similar to the commercial verbena ‘Flair Red’(patent status unknown). Differences between the varieties are describedin Table 2.

TABLE 2 Comparison with Similar Variety Characteristic ‘KLEVP15616’‘Flair Red’ Flower color Orange-red with Purple darker red eyesTolerance to Good tolerance Less tolerance than powdery mildew‘KLEVP15616’

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Verbena plant designated‘KLEVP15616’ as illustrated and described herein.